ON THE BRIDGE!

Its a busy time on the Galactica bridge as its main command officers confer on their ongoing flight with the Cylons. I assume that this must be from the filming of Gun on Ice Planet Zero rather than the pilot episode (unless its a deleted scene).

'MISSION' AT 45: THE KAMIKAZE ATTACK!

A catastrophe on the bridge!

A spectacular sequence from the film (with great stunt work and pyrotechnics), even if it had been pinched from the weekly series episode Fire in Space, as the Galactica bridge and its crew are caught in a brutal kamikaze attack by a Cylon fighter packed with Solenite explosives that near destroys them, bringing many casualties and critically wounding Commander Adama at the worst possible time, his injured body soon taken to the Life Centre medical area for upcoming dangerous surgery amidst a now compromised, fire-stricken Galactica.

Running from a major explosion.

Tigh and Lt. Omega tend to the fallen Adama in the international lobby card for the film.

Lorne Greene is given his 'wounds' by the Universal make-up team.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "BLUE SQUADRON LAUNCHED!"

The efficient and amiable Flight Corporal Rigel delivers the happy news that the raw female pilots comprising the new Blue Squadron vipers have successfully launched from the Galactica's bays, generating equal joy from the rest of the bridge crew, in a nice moment for actress Sarah Rush, from Lost Planet of the Gods, Part One.

CLASSIC ART: COLLISION COURSE!

No longer captured by the weird environs of the Memory Machine, Commander Adama has new problems on his hands, with what looks like a kamikaze Cylon Basestar on the attack, in this great opening artwork to the classic series Marvel Comic issue 12, with stellar work once more from regular talents Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson, featuring colouring by George Roussos

Original B/W version.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: SAVED FROM ANNIHILATION!

"We've picked up an explosion. A big one!"

As the critical point of potential destruction is is reached, Lt. Rigel picks up the incredible news that the Ravashol Pulsar weapon has been destroyed in an immense explosion on the planet's surface. The Galactica and the human fleet have been miraculously saved, and jubilant celebration is soon in the air around the bridge as an equally joyous Adama and Tigh order the immediate dispatch of a shuttle and fighter escort down to Arcta to retrieve their friends and family...

The mountain is confirmed destroyed!

The bridge crew celebrate their success and camaraderie under pressure.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45 - CLOSING IN TO DESTRUCTION!

Another close shave for the Galactica as its bridge crew react to the continuous bombardment of Arcta's pulsar weapon against them, which generates too many and numerous destructive near misses. 

The energy beams grow closer and closer...

And the Cylon Basestars are closing in behind them...

A tense sequence of building threat that was well edited for this episode...

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: YOU WANT ME TO GET THESE PEOPLE?

Having received the computer selected list of 'specialists' needed for the mission to Arcta, a surprised Starbuck re-confirms the decision with Commander Adama. Surely the fleet's survival shouldn't depend upon the skills of "a band of murderers and cutthroats!"

Starbuck gives Boomer some bad news about the recruitment list!

Great behind the scenes image of Dirk Benedict on the bridge set.

In a deleted scene, Starbuck later returns to the Galactica bridge to check the final list of team members chosen to go to the surface, of which his name will soon be 'added' to the list. Athena is disappointed that convict Leda has gone on the mission rather than the computer choosing her.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: THE CYLON 'WEAPON' REVEALED!

Returned to the Galactica with vital scans on the Cylon's new and deadly weapon, our heroes, including a frustrated Starbuck (angry about not being able to rescue Cree), assemble on the bridge to work out a plan of survival and attack. Adama concludes that a team must ultimately be assembled via computer selection to destroy the pulsar before the weapon can be used on the approaching Colonial Fleet and the Galactica (capable of being destroyed by it in a single pulse, no less), whose herding into the quadrant by the Cylons has now been ominously confirmed...

Assessing the telemetry information on the super weapon.

An analysis of the aerial footage and the weapon begins...

A terrific posed publicity image for the scene.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: AN OBJECT IN SECTOR SIGMA!

The planet Arcta, soon discovered by Starbuck's deep space probe. This space planet image would be regularly used both in Galactica and Buck Rogers.

Starbuck and his patrol discover an object in Sector Sigma, which, when relayed to the bridge, is revealed as a planet with hostile weather conditions marked by di-ethene storms. The cadet patrol is ordered to stay at a distance from the planet, whilst Starbuck and Boomer begin a safe reconnoiter away from its gravitational pull...

Adama and Tigh with Flight Corporal Rigel (Sarah Rush, sporting a new hairstyle since the pilot) observe information on Arcta.

The scanner read out information is relayed to the Colonial pilots.

The harsh realm of Arcta...

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE HAPPY WARRIORS!

They're normally seen and partaking in such serious moments on the Galactica bridge as Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh, so any chance to see Lorne Greene and Terry Carter having fun between filming, as seen with The Long Patrol, is always welcome.

CLASSIC IMAGE: BRIDGE DECISIONS...

Critical times require Colonial Warriors to make critical actions, and none more so than when they are people in high command, as the respected and beloved Commander Adama and his loyal second, Colonel Tigh, monitor and react to the ongoing horrors of the Cylon sneak attack, during the opening to Saga of a Star World...

CLASSIC IMAGE: BACK ON THE BRIDGE!

One of the most expensive sets ever created for television at that time, and one of the costliest to maintain what with its all its electronic requirements, the fully-functional onscreen Galactica bridge remains one of the iconic sets of not just this series but of US TV science fiction series in general.

An ambitious press launch for the series on the bridge set.

With such a pedigree added to the series, its no surprise that Universal and the series producers were keen to make the most of the set in terms of promotion, and they were successful in their results in the lead-up to the Star Wars on TV event, as the press would originally describe it! 

Enjoy below's special promo featuring unused or alternate footage linked to the pilot, including the Imperious Leader voiced by an unknown actor, who wasn't Ted Cassidy or Patrick Macnee!

Magazine scans of Tekweek linked to the creation of the Bridge set and publicity for the new series... 

From The Portland Rose Festival Friday June 2nd 1978 - Tekweek article.

A look at the original 1978 filming supervised by Saga director Richard A. Colla on the Galactica bridge set.

HANDLING A 'FIRE IN SPACE'!

The Cylon's recent kamikaze attack has left Galactica in a precarious position, as Apollo, Tigh and the ship's fire chief work to find way of defeating the raging internal fires threatening both the vessel and its many injured inhabitants, in a memorable photo from Fire in Space. 

CLASSIC IMAGE: AFTER THE ATTACK...

With the fires on the Galactica bridge temporarily out, and Baltar's immense Cylon Raider attack force on the run from Commander Cain's genuinely surprising appearance, Adama confers with his old friend on a new rendezvous, so as to discuss the fleet's future survival, in a rare-ish image from The Living Legend, Part One.

CLASSIC IMAGE: KEEPING THE WATCH!

A dedicated commanding officer and one of the most loyal friends that Commander Adama could ever hope for, the ever-reliable, stern but compassionate Colonel Tigh keeps an eye on the daily routine on the bridge of the Galactica, in a posed image likely linked to the pilot or Gun on Ice Planet Zero. 

CLASSIC IMAGE: COMMAND DECISIONS!

On the bridge of the Galactica, Adama and Tigh keep an intent eye on a dangerous situation, watched by Lt.Omega, in a great posed image taken for the weekly series, presumably linked to the vessels's shield defence of the planet Terra in the episode, Experiment in Terra.

CLASSIC IMAGE: MONITERING THE FLEET!

Image: via Kobol.com

The Colonial Vipers may be the defensive force for the Rag-Tag Fleet, but keeping their own vigil on the 220 odd and ancient ships are the many technicians working from the always-busy Galactica bridge- the set, despite its now dated looking electronics, nonetheless remains an impressive overall visual sight- no wonder it was so costly to maintain during the life of its first season filming run...

CLASSIC IMAGE: FAMILY MATTERS!

The Galactica bridge is normally recognised as a place of high-stakes battle and drama, but there's still an occasional time there for quiet and reflection as Adama and Boxey share some quality time together whilst Apollo is currently missing in action, in this scene from The Lost Warrior.

'MISSION GALACTICA' AT 41: GALACTICA ATTACKED!

Briefly ignoring the direct retreat order of Baltar, the massive Cylon Assault squadron tasked with destroying the Galactica deals the Colonial vessel a mighty blow and 'A Fire in Space', thanks to two suicidal Raiders packed with explosives, one of which has hit the bridge area and seriously injured Commander Adama!

CLASSIC ART: BEHOLD THE BRIDGE!

One of the most expensive sets ever constructed for a TV series of that time - the Galactica's bridge - is as well realized in this highly detailed behind the tech art as in it was with its onscreen construction. This art is presumably work for that publishing project that never happened? If anyone knows the artist or has more info, please get in touch.